“Throughout the second half of the twentieth century jazz dance came to be recognized as an artistic medium equal to other genres of concert dance such as ballet, modern, and post-modern dance. Throughout that time a path was forged by a few jazz dance pioneers who developed and codified movement methodologies and inscribed their personal movement style on their dancers. The late Jack Cole initiated the concept of a learned technique for jazz dancers but other earlier innovators like George Balanchine and Katherine Dunham contributed to the need for jazz dance technique by creating theatrical choreography that fused classical dance with a jazzy new style. Gus Giordano, like Luigi and Matt Mattox, became a ground-breaking figure in helping to elevate jazz dance as a serious art form by systematizing a technical training program for jazz dancers and by establishing a concert jazz dance company in Evanston, Illinois. The dance company Giordano established in 1963 still exists and tours extensively, and the technique he meticulously codified, illustrated, and published in 1975 is known and used by dance teachers on several continents. These achievements allowed for a widespread dissemination of his aesthetic, and his success in 1990 at establishing a bi-annual Jazz Dance World Congress continues to foster credibility and respect for jazz dance as a serious artistic expression.” (bold and bold italic not in original)